December 7, 2018

Many people look forward to the holidays all year – and seeing friends and family, enjoying time off work, and giving gifts are just some of the reasons why. But one thing that can quickly put a damper on all that merry-making is a dental emergency! After all, no one wants to spend their holidays in the dental chair having a toothache looked at. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to prevent a dental emergency from ever occurring in the first place. Keep reading for ways to keep your smile healthy this holiday season so you can spend time enjoying yourself – instead of getting work done from an emergency dentist in Green Hills!

Schedule a Checkup

This is the #1 thing you can do to prevent an unforeseen
dental problem during the holidays. Although you’re probably busy at this time
of year, a little time spent on prevention is well worth it.

And just like you get regular maintenance and oil changes
for your car to prevent a breakdown, getting a checkup can help you prevent
major dental problems down the road.

It’s a great way to be proactive and find out if you have
any undiagnosed problems that can be treated before the holidays. That way, you can decide when to take care of a
problem tooth, rather than the tooth deciding for you at an inconvenient time
like New Year’s Eve!

Wear a Night Guard

Millions of people clench and grind at night, putting their
teeth and dental work at risk for chips and fractures. If a dentist has
recommended that you have a night guard made, or you have one but don’t wear
it, it’s a great time to make it a priority.

Avoid Certain Foods

The holidays are filled with hard, crunchy and sticky foods
that can easily break a tooth or damage existing fillings, bridges and crowns.
Here are some examples of foods to minimize or avoid altogether:

Caramel

Toffee

Peanut brittle

Hard candy

Chewing on ice

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits

It goes without saying that your brushing and flossing
routine has a huge impact on your dental health. That’s especially true during
the holidays when you’re likely to be consuming more sweets than usual!

Be sure to brush for 2 minutes twice a day, and floss once.
It’s also a good idea to swish with a fluoride (anti-cavity) mouthwash 1-2x/day
to strengthen your enamel and prevent cavities.

By using these tips and tricks to keep your smile healthy,
you’ll be able to enjoy the holidays and avoid an emergency trip to
the dentist!

About the Author

Dr.
James Kirby is a general and emergency dentist in Green Hills and a native
of Tennessee. In addition to providing outstanding emergency care, he always focuses
on prevention to help his patients avoid the need for it as much as possible. If
you have any other questions about dental emergencies, he can be reached via
his website or at (615)
327-2123.

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